Klamath Price Cap Bill Passes Oregon Senate Committee Today

Klamath Price Cap Bill Passes Senate Committee Today

by Dan Bacher

Oregon SB 76, the Klamath Price Cap Bill introduced by Governor Ted Kulongoski, passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee on a 4-1 vote today. It will likely be considered by the full Senate early next week, according to Craig Tucker, spokesman for the Karuk Tribe.

SB 76 would cap PacifiCorp’s CA and OR ratepayers’ financial liabilities associated with Klamath River dam removal at $200 million. This money would be collected over the course of the next 10 years and used to remove dams in 2020 if PacifiCorp and Klamath stakeholders can reach a final dam removal agreement this summer.

"Ratepayer advocates support the bill as the Public Utility Commission would have to deem any expenses for dam removal or otherwise to meet a just, reasonable, and prudent standard," said Tucker. "In addition, the cost of dam relicensing is predicted to far exceed $200 million with estimates from state agencies ranging as high as $470 million."

"The diverse groups supporting the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement see the passage of the bill as a big step towards implementing a basin-wide settlement agreement that would remove the lower four Klamath River dams, implement a water sharing agreement, and provide economic assistance to Tribal and agricultural communities," added Tucker.

Supporters of the bill include the Karuk, Klamath and Yurok Tribes, the Klamath Water Users Association, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Trout Unlimited, American Rivers, Northwest Steelheaders, the Citizens' Utility Board, Sustainable Northwest and PacifiCorp. The Industrial Customers of Northwest Utilities (ICNU), a coalition of 18 different companies, and Siskiyou County are opposing the legislation.

For more information, contact: S. Craig Tucker, Ph.D., Klamath Campaign Coordinator, Karuk Tribe of California, NEW NUMBER home office: 707-839-1982, Tribal office in Orleans: 530-627-3446 x3027, cell: 916-207-8294, ctucker [at] karuk.us.